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Local government minister, John Healey, has hinted there could be more local government reorganisation on the cards. Mr Healey described the Local Government Bill as ‘modest' and suggested that, should the local circumstance require it, the Government should be able to invite, receive and consider more proposals for unitaries. He told The MJ: ‘We've got to have a door which can be opened should a local authority want to do so in the future.' The MJ reported last week (4 October) that many people were concerned that the Local Government Bill could have become caught in the legislative ‘horse-trading' if an election was called. But Gordon Brown has now ruled out the option of a snap election, which means the Bill can now progress through Parliament. LGA deputy chief executive, John Ransford, said: ‘We would expect the Local Government Bill to complete its passage through Parliament in the next few weeks, and get Royal Assent in early November.' ‘It always was full steam ahead,' said Exeter City Council chief executive, Philip Bostock. ‘The prospect of a general election did threaten to disrupt the process, but from the point of view of our unitary ambitions, we are confident that nothing will now get in the way,' he said. LGIU director of policy and public affairs, Ed Cox, said there were ‘all kinds of issues in the Bill which are important for local government' such as the new performance framework and the duty to co-operate. An announcement about the judicial review brought by Shrewsbury and Atcham BC and Congleton BC is expected today.

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WHITEHALL

Healey opens door for more unitaries

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